Smithsonian Brings Free Entry to Taiwan’s Palace Museum

The Smithsonian Magazine is making its Free Museum Day international this year, and Taiwan is taking part with the National Palace Museum offering free admission to some guests. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is a sponsor of the Smithsonian’s Free Museum Day this year.

Now in its 15th year, Free Museum Day will provide US passport holders free admission to the National Palace Museum in Taipei’s Shilin District on Saturday, September 21. Free entry will also be available at the museum’s Southern Branch in Chiayi.

US passport holders will also be given a 10% discount on many items in the museum gift shop on the day. The discount will also be available at the museum shop at Taoyuan International Airport.

This is the first time that a museum in Taiwan has participated in the annual event that makes many museums more accessible to the public. Unlike in the US and some other nations, many of Taiwan’s cultural institutions are reasonably priced to attract more visitors, particularly locals. Tickets to the National Palace Museum are generally NT$350, but Taiwanese citizens get discounted tickets for NT$150. Some special exhibitions require an additional entrance fee.

Visitors on Free Museum Day will be able to experience the special exhibitions as well as the museum’s permanent collection prior to the rollout of 5G service, which is set to open at the National Palace Museum in November. In cooperation with Chunghwa Telecom, the museum will offer an augmented reality experience in one of the exhibition halls.

Visit our exhibitions page to see a list of special exhibitions at the museums and galleries around Taipei.